Lamp-making machinery



R. M. TERRY ETAL LAMP-MAKING MACHINERY Sept. 29, 1959 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 16. 1955 n. NNN

Sept. 29, 1959 R. M. TERRY ETAL 2,906,580

LAMP-MAKING MACHINERY Filed June 16, 1955 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 BygmM/fww mn@ Sept- 29, 1959 R. M. TERRY m1. 2,906,580

LAMP-MAKING MACHINERY Filed June 16, 1955 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 BY ERNEST E. YEO

ATTORNEY sept. 29, 1959 R. M. TERRY Em A2,906,580

LAMP-MAKING MACHINERY Filed June 16, 1955 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS Raam M. meer JAMES ,R OBR/EN kA/557 E. YE@

ATTORNEY Sept. 29, 1959 R. M. TERRY TAL 2,906,580

' LAMP-mmc: MACHINERY Filed June 16. 1955 l I e sheets-sheet 5 INVENTORS 'ROGER M. TERRY JAMES P. U'ER/E/V BY ERNEST E. YEO

Armen/ Ey R. M. TERRY ETAL 2,906,580

LAMP-MAKING MACHINERY Sept. 29, 1959 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed June 16, 1955 Own O.vm ONM OOM Ow OwN OvN ONN OON O- Ow- O ON. .00. O Ow O.v ON O .rm-I.. mIEmmZ .502. .Emma

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United States Patent O LAlVIP-MAKING MACHINERY Roger M; Terry, Ipswich, James Paul OBrien, Beverly,

and Ernest E Yeo, Wenham, Mass., assignors, mesne assignments, to Sylvania Electric Products Inc., Wilmington, Del., a corporation of Delaware Application June 16, 1955, Serial No. 515,915

V1'5 Claims. (Cl. S16-31) Our invention relates to the manufacture of lamps and, more particularly, to novel automatic machinery for performing lamp-making operations at high speed.

The manufacture of lamps has become one of the most developed arts of mass production, and the industry has been driven to intense competition to find ways and means of increasing productive etiiciency and lowering costs. There are in use automatic machines of highly ingenious design by means of which complex operations are performed 'at high speed. However, conventional lamp-making machines each perform but one sequence of operations, thus rendering it necessary to transfer lamps, onev at a time from one machine to the next.

Our invention derives from the novel concept of a device by means of which it is possible not only to transfer a plurality of lamps at a time from one machine to the next but also to utilize thetransfer mechanism to cooperate simultaneously with both machines in the perfomance of operations requiring either the assembly of a lamp element upon the lamp in process or the detachment of a lamp element required to be discarded.

These concepts are herein shown as embodied in a device arranged to cooperate with an exhaust machine to burn or tip off the exhaust tubes of a pair of lamps, carry them to a basing machine and then hold the lamps while lamp bases are assembled on the lamps, the lead wires are threaded through the bases, and then deliver the pair of lamps to lampr holders associated with the basing machine. Itis, however, to be understood that the same concepts may equallywell be carried out in devices disposed between an automatic mount-making machine and a machine arranged to assemble and seal the byv mounts to bulbs, or between the mount-sealing mai chine and the machine in which lamps are exhausted, flushed, and filled with inert gas.

An important feature of our invention resides in a circularturret disposed between lamp-making machines adapted to perform sequential series of lamp-making opi To be more specific, the chord incidence with a portion of the path of the lamp holders l of the second machine (at which time the second operation can be carried out).

Consequently the transfer device of our invention may be associated with machines having lamp holder paths of either circular or straight-line configuration.

Inaddition to the functions of transfer and participa- Ation in the Work of the two machines with which it may be associated, the device of our invention may also include one Aor more operating stations of its own.

2,906,580 Patented VSept. A 29, 1959 ICC Perhaps the most important advantage resulting from' the use of our invention is the fact that otherwise conventional lamp-making machines may be vadapted to doubleindexing in order that lamps may be made in pairs rather than seriatim. From this flows the result of an enormous increase in the rate of production per machine, per square foot of factory space, and per employee.

The several features and advantages of the invention will be more readily understood and appreciated from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof selected for purposes of illustration and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a device constructed in accordance with the invention,

Figs: 2a and 2b are views in side elevation with portions being broken away, the two gures together comprising an elevation of the entire device,

Fig. 3 is a View in side elevation of the wire straightening device, Y

Fig. 4 is an unfolded view in elevation and partly in section through the devices employed to straighten the lead wires,

Fig. 5 is a view of the instrumentalities employed to thread the lead wire through the base, and

Fig. 6 is a chart showing the operation and relationship of the various cams employed to synchronize the various motions of the machine.

Before proceeding to a detailed description of the machine shown in the drawings, we shall first outline the principal functions and instrumentalities. In Fig. l there is indicated at the right a circular turret vexhaust machine 12 which operates to move lamps clamped by their eX- Vhaust tubes through a series of stations at which the lamp is exhausted, ushed and filled in conventional manner. At the left of Fig. 1 there is suggested a finishing or basing machine 14 in which lamps are indexed through a series of stations at which the lamp base is assembled on the lamp, the lead wire is threaded through the base, the base is cemented in place, and the lead wire is soldered to the base eyelet. Both the exhaust and finishing machines are of dual character, the indexing being double to move pairs of lamps from. one pair of twin stations to the next.

Disposed between the exhaust and finishing machines is a circular transfer turret 16 having at its periphery a series of lamp holding jaws by means of which pairs of lamps are taken from the exhaust machine 12 and transferred to the finishing machine 16. Here it is important to note that all three units index in synchronisrn and that all three operate sequentially on pairs of lamps, as opposed to the one-by-one system conventional in the art. The distanceV between each of a pair of lamp holders of the transfer turret is equal to the distance between the holders of each pair on the exhaust and finishing machines. The peripheral circles of the exhaust machine and turret intersect; so that the center points of the pairs of coincident holders of the two machines define chords of equal length, and, nally, the peripheral circle of the turret is intersected by the path of travel of the center points of the lamp holders on the finishing machine in such fashion that the center points of coincident pairs of holders of these two machines defines a chord of the said circle.

In addition to its transfer function the turret cooperates with the exhaust machine to tip the lamps and with the finishing machine to thread the lead wires into the bases. Moreover the turret also has its own instrumentalities effective to straighten the lead wires in preparation for the threading operation.

It is believed that the foregoing description of the general functions and character of the system of the invention will enable the reader more easily to comprehend the following detailed description thereof:

The turret, its indexing and lamp holders The turret which has been indicated generally at 16 comprises essentially a hat circular steel plate 20 having a center hub 22 and an upstanding annular flange 24 spaced inwardly from the periphery of the plate 20; at spaced intervals along the periphery of the plate 20, there are arcuate cut-outs 26 about the margin of each of which are curved rests 28 suitably dimensioned to accept the rounded lower end of a lamp bulb such as is shown for example at 28. Mounted on the upper surface of the upstanding flange 24 is a plurality of pairs of lampengaging jaws, each pair comprising a short jaw 30 and a longer jaw 32 elongated rearwardly of the pivot point and carrying at its inner end a roller or cam follower 34. Spanning each pair of jaws 30 and 32 is a tensiori spring 36 operating to urge the jaws together to closed position. Each jaw is mounted on a shaft extending vertically through the flange 24 and the plate 20 and carrying at its lower end a pinion 38, the pinions of each jaw of a pair vbeing meshed. Because of the close spacing of the pairs of jaws (it being apparent from an inspection of Fig. 1 that the jaws of adjacent pairs cross each other). Alternate pairs are disposed at different levels. For example, the jaw at the right of Fig. 2a is shown on a higher level than the jaw appearing at the left of Fig. 2b.

In order to provide for the opening and closing of the lamp-engaging jaws 30 and 32 there is provided a cam 40 mounted on top of the turret for rotation with respect to the plate 20 through mechanism later to be described. The cam 40 engages the cam followers 34 of the long jaw of each pair, the cam track having two levels to accommodate the rollers which are set on two levels. The sequence of operations involved in opening and closing thelamp-engaging jaws 30 and 32 will be more readily understood by reference to companion instrumentalities later to be described.

Coming now to the indexing of the turret 16, the drive for the turret comes from a cam shaft 50 mounted in horizontal position in bearings (not shown) at the 'base of the exhaust machine 12, the shaft 50 carrying a sprocket 52 'effective to drive a chain 54 leading over a sprocket S6 which is keyed to a horizontally disposed shaft 58 mounted beneath the turret 16 and carrying a barrel carn 60 which cooperates with a plurality of rollers 62 mounted on'the lower surface of an index wheel 64 secured vto the lower end of a vertical shaft 66 journalled in a bearing 68 supported on the exhaust machine by a suitable bracket 70. As the barrel cam 60 is rotated, an inclined groove in its face operates to pick up one of the rollers 62 and turn the index wheel through 45, thereby moving into position the next roller 62 for engagement by the cam 60 as it commences another cycle.

The vertical shaft 66 is received at its upper end in a hollow shaft 72 fixed to thehub 22 of the turret plate 20 and supported in a stout bearing bracket 74 secured to the exhaust machine 12. In order to prevent relative rotation between the shafts 66 and 72 the shaft 66 is provided with a collar 76 having a bifurcated extension receiving a key or pin 78 secured at its upper end to a grooved collar 80 secured to the lower end of the shaft 72. Consequently the turret blade 20 made with its shaft 72 may be raised and lowered but is prevented from rotating relative to the shaft 66.

.Coming now tothe drive for elevating and lowering the turret, thecam shaft 50 is provided with a cam 82Vagainst which operates a roller84 mounted on the end of a lever 86 which is in turn pivotally mounted on a stud 88 and being bifurcated at its otherend to embrace the collar 80 on the shaft 72, the bifurcated Aends of the lever y86 each.carrying a roller 90 engaged -in the Vgroove of the collar 80. As theshaft 50 turns the cam 82 tl1 e lever 8 6 operates to rock the shaft 72 up and down, thus raising third curve, C, represents the operation of thelcarn 40 to open and close the jaws of the lamp holders.

The jaws must be open before they reach the station at the exhaust machine at which the successive pairs of lamps are transferred into the turret. This transfer station is indicated by the letter X, while the delivery station at the finishing machine on the other side of the tur ret is shown at the letter Y. At the station X ,the jaws must be closed about the lamp while the pair of jaws then at the station Y must simultaneously be open to release the pair of lamps into the custody of the yfinishing machine 14. For these purposes the cam 40 is provided at either side opposite the stations X and Y with tracks cooperating with the jaw rollers 34 to open and close the jaws as the cam 40 isrocked back and forth through a limited arc.

To operate the cam 40 there is provided on the cam lshaft 50 a cam 100 cooperating with a roller 102 carried on the end of a lever 104 pivoted on the stud 88 and pivotally connected to a link 106 secured at its other end to a lever 108 secured to the lower end of a vertical rock shaft 110 mounted in suitable bearings and extending up above the turret. The upper end of the oscillating shaft 100 is connected to a lever 112 pivotally connected to a rod 114 which in turn is secured to the upper face of the cam 40. The action of the cam 100, through the levers and linkages described is to reciprocate the rod -114 and thereby rock the cam 40 back and forth.

The tipping operation and transfer to the turret The exhaust machine 12 includes a rotating turret having a circumferential series of heads into the bottom of each of which the exhaust tube 121 of the lamp is clamped, the head 120 being moved from station tostation into communication with vacuum pumps and sources of ushing and filling gas (not shown). After the lamp has been filled with an inert gas, it is necessary to seal it by heating the exhaust .tube 121 and drawing the tube longitudinally to close it off. This operation is customarily referred to as tipping and is illustrated at the right of Fig. 2b where a lamp 28 is shown at the completion of the tipping operation. Each of the two tipping torches comprises a pair of opposed nozzles 122 mounted on the ends of rearwardly extending gas pipes 123. To support the tipping torches 122 there is provided a carriage including a pair of collars 119 slidably mounted on a pair of spaced upstanding rods 124. A vertically disposed bar 125 is pivotally connected Vto each collar 119 and supports at Vits upper end a pivot pin 126 upon which is mounted a bracket 127-to which the gas pipes 123 are clamped. To .the inner end of the bracket 127 there is .secured a counterweight 128 dimensioned to maintain the torches level.

Intermediate the ends of the bar 125 is a fixed horizontal pin 130 working in a vertical slot 132 cut in a at plate 34 screwed' to a bar 136'secured at its lower end to a rod 138 pivotally mounted in a bracket 140 fastened -to the exhaust machine 12.

It will now beseen'that thecollars 119 maybe raised and lowered to ,move the tipping torches up and down; the bar 136 mayberocked to move the tipping torches in and out; and the counterweight 128 will lkeep the torches counterbalanced at all times. It `will now` 'be appropriate to describe the cams and links by means o f which the required motions of the torches are secured.

The in-and-out motion of the torches is achievedfrom a cam 140 mounted on the cam shaft 50 and operating a roller 142 secured to the end of a lever 144 .pivoted on the stub shaft 88 and connected yat its outer end to a link 146 connected at its upper end to a lever 148 fastened to the rod 138 when the cam 140 operates to oscillate the lever 148, the bar 134 is swung to the right, as shown in dotted lines, thus causing similar swinging of the bar 125 carrying the torches.

To raise and lower the tipping torch assembly, there is provided a cam 150 mounted on the cam shaft 50 and cooperating with a roller 152 secured to the end of a lever 154 mounted on the stub shaft 88 and connected by a link 156 to one end of a bell crank lever 158 pivotally mounted on the exhaust machine and bifurcated at its other end and provided with opposed rollers embracing a grooved collar 160 fixed to the lower end of a rod 162. The rod 162 passes through a guide 164 and is pinned at its upper end to a bar spanning the collars 119 forming part of the tipping torch carriage.

On Fig. 6 the curves D and E represent the operation of the cams 150 and 140. By reference to curve A, it will appear that as the turret is being indexed the torch is elevated and moved rearwardly. When the turret reaches a new index position, the torch moves in, drops a little, and then falls as the turret drops (curve B).V

In order to protect the seal of the lamp, a pair of thin baiiie plates 170 is disposed immediately beneath each pair of burner nozzles, there fbeing just enough space between them to accommodate the thin glass exhaust tube 121. To ensure proper seating of the lamp 28 when the exhaust tube parts, there is provided a vertical metal plate 172 mounted on rods 174 secured to the bar 125 and disposed in position to encounter and guide the bulb of the lam-p 28 as it drops into its seat 27 on the turret plate 20. f

Concerning the operation of the turret jaws and tipping torches, it is appropriate to begin with the station marked W, just preceding the tipping and transfer station X. The jaws of the pair at W are open, the jaw rollers 34 being held in open Iposition by the cam 40. At station W on the exhaust machine the exhaust tubes of the lamps are held between pre-heating burners (not shown). As the indexing begins the turret is in lowered position, the jaws at W are open, the tipping torch is rising and swinging rearwardly. The exhaust machine indexes simultaneously and the lamps and jaws are now moved to station X.

Now the torch moves in to operative position as the turret rises (Fig. 6, curves B, D and E). When the turret reaches its uppermost position the jaws begin to close. rI'hen the turret and the torch begin to drop together, the exhaust tube now being plastic; the jaws finish closing. Iust before the turret reaches its bottom position, the torch begins to move out of position and also to rise. Then the turret and exhaust machine begin to rotate to a new index position, while the torch continues to move inwardly and upwardly back to starting position.'

The wire straightening After a pair of lamps have been simultaneously tipped and transferred to the turret at station X, they are indexed to the `subsequent station X-1 at which a preliminary straightening operation is performed on the lead wire, the object being to move the lead wire into vertical position for subsequent threading through the eyelet of the metal base. The work is attached in two stages at stations X-1 and X-2.

It should perhaps be first explained vthat each lamp has two wires extending outwardly from the seal of the mount, one wire is to be bent downwardly above the seal so that it will be trapped by the metal base and provide a connection from the filament to the conventional metal threaded portion of the lamp base. The

other wire Vis threaded longitudinally through the base and eventually soldered to the eyelet at the extreme bottom of the lamp base, the eyelet serving as thefother terminal for the filament circuit. Inasmuch as the wires would be burned olf by the tipping torches, it is necessary to provide mechanism on the exhaust machine for bending both of the lead wires outwardly and downwardly away from the exhaust tube 121. Whilevone of the wires need not be straightened, the top wire, as pre# viously stated must be restored to vertical position for threading into the lamp base. Y

At the #station X-1, as best shown at `the right-hand of Fig. 4 the wires 170 of the pair of lamps 28 are engaged by a pair of simultaneously operating kicker bars v172 which are swung rapidly upward through an arc through means of mechanism to be described. At the subsequent station X-2 each of the partially erected wires is gripped between a stationary jaw and a movable jaw and held between the jaws while the turret drops and pulls the wires downwardly between the jaws until they are freed when the turret reaches its bottom position. `As shown in Figs'. l and 4 each operating instrumentality at station X-2 comprises essentially a fixed jaw member 174 and a movable t jaw member 176, both jaws terminating in V-shaped members which embrace the wire and center it when the jaws reach closed position.

To operate the wire straightening device at stations `X-1 and X-2 there is provided a cam shaft 180 jour nalled in suitable bearings beneath the turret plate and driven by means not shown. Mounted on the shaft is a cam 182 on which rests a cam follower roller 184 mounted on the end of a bell crank lever 186 mounted for rotation about a stud 188. The other end of the bell crank lever 186 is connected to a link 190 which in turn is pivotally connected to a lever 192 pivotally mounted on a stud 194. The other end of the lever 192 is pivotally secured to la vertical rod 196 at the upper end of which is pivotally mounted a bell crank lever 198 mounted for rotation on a shaft 200 secured in brackets fixed -to the machine. The other end of the bell crank lever 198 is pivotally connected to a link 202 which is in turn connected toa lever 204 mounted on a shaft 206 parallel to the shaft 200. On the 'opposite ends of the shaft 206 are identical levers 208 and 210 to the free ends of which were fixed the con` nector bars 172. When the cam 182 is rotated, the result is to reciprocate the rod 196 vertically and cause the levers 208 and 210 to swing upwardly through an arc from the phantom position shown in Fig. 4 to the full line position in that figure. In so moving the upwardly swinging bars 172 encounter the bent over lead wires 170 and bring them to the positions shown in Fig. 4. At the completion of the stroke of the levers 208 and 210 they are moved still further upwardly from the position shown in Fig. 4 to a higher position at which they clear the ends of the lead Wires 170. In view of the fact that these wires are resilient, they will spring back somewhat after receiving the upward kick from the bars 172. It is therefore necessary to subject them to another straightening operation at station X-2.

To operate the straightening jaws at station X-Z the link 190, driven by the bell crank lever 186 is continued to terminate in a pivotal connection to a lever 220 and to a connecting rod 222 which in turn is connected to a lever 224 similar to the lever 220. The ends of the levers 220 and 224 are pinned to the lower ends of a pair of parallel shafts 226 and 228 which are mounted in bearings 230 `secu-red to the frame of the machine adjacent the lower end of the shafts. At the upper ends the shafts 226 and 228 are journalled in bearings provided in a bracket 232 above which the ends of the shafts extend. Fixed to the upper extending end of each of the shafts 226 and 228 above thebracket 232 are the levers 176, while the two fixed jjaws 174 are xedly mounted on the bracket 2,32. To the outer end of all of the jaws there are fastened the V-shaped plates previously referred to.

t 'By reference to curve I of Fig. 6, it will be evident thtthe'cam 182 operates in such fashion that the kicker bars 172 are down and the jaws 176 open while the yturret is indexing. YIt is only when the turret has been elevated that the cam 182 operates to swing in the iws 1-76 and to swing upwardly the kicker b'ars 172. The kicker bars remain up and the jaws remain closed Awhile the turret drops and the cycle is completed.

At this point it should Vbe stated that the function of the kicker bars 172 is to bring 4the wires 170 near enough to vertical position so `that they will be encompassed within the scope of the opposed VV-Shaped jaws 174 and 176 at station X-Z.

l 'After the completion of the wire straightening operation at station X-Z, the turret indexes the pair of lamps 28 to lthe next station X-3. The station X-3 is merely arest station, no operations being carried out Von lamps held at `that station. v v

The wire threading and transfer fo the jnishng machine A t station Y the primary functions of the apparatus are :to assemble a pair of lamp bases upon a pair lof lamps, this operation requiring the two to be brought into {assembled relation while the erected lead wires are threaded through the eyelets in the lamp bases; also at station Y the pair of lamps is transferred from theV custody of the turret jaws 30'and 32 to `a pair of lamp holders associated with the finishing machine and by means of which the lamps are supported as they are moved through the successive stations `of the finishing machine.

t' The finishing machine includes a plurality of heads ranged for step-wise indexing along the machine. As best shown in Fig. 2d each of the heads includes a bracket mounting a pair of jaws 300 adapted to hold a lamp baseloaded into thehead at a'previous station on ,the finishing machine. Above each pair of jaws 300 is a fiat plate 302 apertured to receive the eyelet disposed at the crest oft'the'base and cooperating with the jaws 300 to hold a lamp base 304 firmly in position. The `operation ofthe base holding jaws and the loading of the base into the head form no part of the present invention.V Each headalso a vertical Vrod 306 on which is slidably mounted a bracketV 3,08 mounted to slide on the rod 306 and'to belockedinadjusted position by means of a springloaded ball '310, Yall'as Vmore f ully described in the vcopending applicationof Yeov et al., Ser. 515,882 vfiled lune" l6`,l 1955, entitled Lamp IFinishing Head. The bracket 3,08 provides support for three upwardly Ydivergingfingers 312 adaptedto forma seat for the bulb portion ,of 4thelamp 28. As shownin 2a the tnrret is dropped so that'the lamp is now ysupported on the lingers 312' at the bottorrias well kas by engagement of the seal of the lamp within thelamp base 304; the lead wire 170 hasv been threaded Ithrough the'lamp base eyelet and now entends upwardly above' the base.

" The operation of threading the Wire 170 through the ba'se is aecomplished by means of funnel shaped jaws 3720 shown in Fig. 2a as swungfoutof the way but which as shown in Fig. are swung downwardly into position above the lamp 28 and beneath the base'304. A threading needle 322 is atthe same time brought downwardly to'thelamp base into Vregistration with thefunnel jaws 320;'"A1t will be evident that with the elements in this position, 4the upwardly moving lead l'wire 170 will find Ythe entrance to the vfunnel jaws 320 and be guided by them into the needle 3,22'."As the lamp Vcontinues to rise and the needle is`th`en elevated, the'lead'wire 1704moves up thronghfthe eyelet tothe'lamp base 304 into the position shown in'Fig. 2a. However, since the funnel jaws 320 are interposed between the lamp and its base during the initial threading operation,'they must be snapped back out ofthe way so that 4the lamp may continue to rise until rit is housed within thel base. As the turret rises to elevate the lamp, the finishing machine head bracket 308 is simultaneously elevated, continuing to rise a bit after the turret has reached its uppermost position in order that the fingers 312 may then come into engagement with and lift and support the lamp. It will now be appropriate to describethe mechanisms employed to bring about the operations and motions referred to.

Each pair of funnel jaws 320 comprises, as best shown in Fig. 5, a pair of members each of which forms one half of the funnel when the jaws are brought together. Each of the members of the funnel jaws 320 is mounted at the end of a short lever arm 330 terminating in a Vcollar 332 pinned to the end of a stub shaft 334 journalled in a bracket 336 mounted at the end of a rocker arm 338. To rotate the shafts 334 and move the jaws there is provided at the upper end of each of the stub shafts 334 a pinion 340, the pinions of each jaw of the pair being1 meshed. Slidably mounted in the bracket 336 adjacent and in mesh with one of the pinions of each pair is a rack bar 342, and it will be understood that as the rack bar 342 is reciprocated the pinions 340 are operated to open and close the funnel jaws. In order to provide smooth and positive operation of the funnel jaws, a tension spring 344'is connected between the innermost jaws of the two pairs and tends to urge the jaws to closed position. The bracket 336 yis supported o n one end of a rocker arm 338 which ispivotally mounted on a stud secured to the frame of the machine. The other end of Vthe rocker arm 338 is connected to a tension spring 346 whichin turn is connected at its other end to an upstanding arm or bracket 348 mounted on the frame of the machine. The action of the spring 346 is .to urge the arm 338 to rock the jaw assembly inward toward the position shown in Fig. 5. The extent of 4this inward movement of the jaw assembly is determined by a stop screw 350 mounted on the frame of the machine in position to intercept the stop surface on the upper end of the rocker arm 348 adjacent the spring 350. To move the jaw assembly outward to the position shown in Fig. 2a and also to operate the rack bar 342 there is provided a second rocker arm 352 also mounted on a stud secured to the frame of the finishing machine and having at its lower end a roller 354 disposed opposite the end of the `rack bar 342. AThe lower portion of the arm 352 also has a stop surface 35,6 disposed to engage a stop screw 358 threaded into the bracket 336.

The upper end of the arm 352 is connected to a link 360 operated by mechanism later to be described. In the position shown in Fig. 5 the arm 352 has been rotated in counter-clockwise direction until the stop surface engages the stop screw 350. The retreat of the lower end of the arm 352 from the bracket 336 permits the spring `34,4 to rotate ythe jaws and the pinions 340 so that the Yfunnel jaws come together in the position shown in Fig. 5, above the ascending lamp 28 and beneath the lamp base 304. At this time the needle 322 has been moved downwardly through the eyelet of the lamp base 30,4 and into the embrace of the funnel jaws 320, each of the jaws of a pair being shouldered at its upper end as shown at 362 to receive the lower end of the needle. The motions are such that the needle first reaches its lov/ermost position before the jaws reach their final closed position, thus ensuring that the jaws are enabled to deliect and center, if necessary, the needle in order that the upwardly ascending lead wire will be guided properly into the needle.

As previously stated, it is necessary to open and retract the funnel jaws 320 as soon as the tip of the lead wire 170 has been introduced into the lower end of the needle, in order that the lamp 28 may continue its up- Ward movement into the lamp base 304. At this juncture the rod 360 is moved to the right in Fig. 5 to rotate the arm 352 in clockwise direction. As this movement is commenced, the rst event is the engagement of the roller 354 with the end of the rack bar 342, the rack barbeing moved a suicient distance to open Ithe jaws 320, against the action of the spring 344, and before the stop surface 356 'of the lever 352 encounters the .stop screw on the bracket 336. In its further movement the arm 352 does encounter the stop screw and thereafter moves the bracket 336 and the entire funnel jaw assembly upwardly through an are to the position shown in Fg.- 2a, against the action of the tension spring 346.

We now come to consider the drive for the arm 352 which operates the funnel jaw assembly. Journalled in the base of the finishing machine is a cam shaft 370 rotated by means not shown and provided with a cam 372 which cooperates with a roller 374 on one end of a bell crank lever 376 which is in turn connected at its outer end to a long substantially vertical connecting rod 378. The upper end of the rod 378 is connected to one end of a bell crank lever 380 pivotally mounted on a stud 382 mounted on the frame of the finishing machine. To the upper end of the bell crank lever 380 is pivotally connected the previously mentioned rod 360 which operates the arm 352.

Mounted on the shaft 370 is a second cam 390 which operates a roller 392 secured to one end of a bell crank lever 394 journalled on a stud 396 secured to the frame of the machine and connected at its outer end to an elongated substantially vertical rod 398. The upper end of the rod 398 is connected to a lever 400 pivotally mounted at 402 on a bracket 404 secured to the frame of the iinishing machine and having a bifurcated outer end in position to embrace the rod 306 of the finishing machine head. In the position shown in Fig. 2a the cam 390 has operated the -arm 400 to elevate the bracket 308 to its uppermost position at which the fingers 312 have engaged the lower end of the lamp 28 and lifted it into the embrace ofthe lamp base 304. The movement of the arm 400 is sufiicient to elevate the bracket 308 until the lamp 28 is housed within the lamp base 304 but not thrust upwardly into tight engagement therewith, the lamp then being approximately 1A; below its final position with respect to the base. That is done because at a later station on the finishing machine the lamp base is heated in order to soften the cement it contains and to permit the lamp to be thrust upwardly another 1A; into firm sealing relationship within the lamp base.

The threading needle 322 is mounted in a plunger 410 slidably mounted in a C-shaped bracket 412 mounted on a heavy arm 414 terminating at its inner end in a heavy collar 416 slidably mounted on a vertical rod 418. It will be understood of course that at station Y there are two needles 322, two brackets 412, two collars 416 and two rods 418. The two collars 416 are spanned by a cross head having an extension 420 slidably engaged on a hexagonal rod 422 mounted in vertical position on the finishing machine, the extension 420 serving with the cross head and collars 416 to form a carriage for the threading needles. The needle plunger' 410 is hollow and filled with sand or similar granules, the purpose being to dampen the movement of the needles so that when they reach their lowermost position they do not bounce or chatter. A cam driven means is provided for raising and lowering the needle carriage 416 at appropriate intervals, the drive for the carriage not being shown in the drawing. By reference to the cam chart of Fig. 6, it will be evident that the funnel jaws are attracted and held openwhile the turret is indexing (it being understood that the turret and the finishing machine index simultaneously).V Just before the turret reaches stopped position, the jaws begin to move in and close. With respectto the threading needles 322, the needle carriage is already elevated during indexing of the turret and does not start to move down f I until the turret has stopped and begun to rise. As soon as the turret has stopped indexing, the cam 390 begins to elevate the bracket 308 on the finishing machine head. Before the turret has risen very far, the funnel jaws 320 10 have been placed in operating position as shown in Fig. 5, the needle 322 has come down to its lowermost position and the jaws 320 have closed about the needle. The needle and jaws are then held in theposition shown in Fig. 5 until the turret brings the lamp 28 high enough to engage the upper end of the lead wire 170 into the end of the needle 322. At this time the lamp is still held by the jaws of the turret, the fingers 312 coming up behind the lamp. The opening and retracting of the jaws 320 then commences and when it has been accomplished, the turret jaws 30 and 32 begin to open. As the jaws 30 and 32 open, the fingers 312 come into contact with the bottom of the lamp 28, theupper end of the lamp being by that time introduced into the opening of the lamp base 304. The )turret then has reached its uppermost position, the turret jaws are fully opened, and the bracket 308 is then lifted a fraction of aninch higher before the arm 400 starts down to clear the rod 306 in order to permit subsequent indexing of the finishing machineheads. The lamp has now been transferred to the finishing machine simultaneously with the threading of the lead wire 170 through the lamp base eyelet. At the subsequent indexing operation, the empty jaws are transferred to the rest station Z shown in Fig. 1 while the transferred lamps in Vthe finishing machine yare stepped along to anotherstation thereon (not shown). The lamp jaws 30 and 32 on the turret are kept open by means of the cam 40 until they again reach station X where they close upon another pairof lamps suspended from the exhaust machine. n

As pointed out in the introductory portion hereof, our invention may be applied to many parts of the lampmaking process; however, it is particularly advantageous, as we believe will be evident, to transfer lamps from an exhaust machine to a finishing machine. It should also be borne in mind that our invention not only involves an effective transfer of a plurality of lamps from one machine to another but also provides means, in the turret, whereby the transfer mechanism cooperates first with one machine to perform an operation, as in tipping, and then with another machine to perform another operation, as in base threading. Additionally the turret provides means whereby independent operations may be performed on lamps, as in the two straightening stations X-l and Xi-2. The system of our invention is therefore particularly advantageous in the position shown in the drawings since `it has features particularly well adapted for operations in connection with the exhaust machine and the finishing machine.

Having now disclosed our invention what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. In combination with a rotary lamp exhaust machine and a basing machine; a substantially circular turret mounted between said machines, a plurality of lamp grippers mounted circumferentially on said turret, means for i successively operating lamp grippers to engage and support lampsy clamped in said exhaust machine, a tipping torch mounted on said exhaust machine, means for simultaneously lowering said turret and tipping torch t0 disconnect the exhaust tube of the lamp and deliver the lamp to the control of the turret; means mounted on said basing machine for threading lead wires from lamps through bases, means for rotating said turret and grippers to present a lamp held by said grippers to the operation of the threading means; means on said basing machine operable after threading to receive and support lamps, and means for releasing said grippers after the threading has been accomplished.

2. In combination with first and second lamp-making machines adapted to perform different operations on a lamp, a transfer turret disposed between said machines, a series of lamp grippers mounted circumferentially on said turret, means for indexing said turret, means effective to tansfer a lamp from the firstmachine to one of said grippers?, means on said first machine for performing an operation on a lamp held by one of said grippers at one position of said turret, means on said second machine for performing another operation on said lamp while held by said grippers at a subsequent position of said turret, and means on said second machine for receiving and supporting a lamp delivered from said grippers after initiation of said operation on the second machine.

3. Lamp-making machinery comprising two lamp-making machines, -a circular turret disposed between the machines, lamp holders mounted on each machine, means on each machine for moving said holders in timed relationship through predetermined paths, lamp grippers mounted circumferentially on said turret, means for rotating said turret in timed relation to the movement of the holders on said machines to move said grippers through a path of which portions overlap portions of the paths of the holders on each of said machines but are vertically displaced therefrom, and means disposed upon one of said machines for assembling a lamp element on a lamp held in one of said grippers.

4. Lamp-making machinery comprising two lamp-making machines, a circular turret disposed between the machines, lamp holders mounted on each machine, means on each machine for moving said holders in timed relationship through predetermined paths, lamp grippers mounted circumferentially on said turret, means for rotating said turret in timed relation to the movement of the holders on said machines to move said grippers through a path of which portions overlap portions of the paths of the holders on each of said machines but are vertically displaced therefrom, and means disposed upon one of said machines for detaching a lamp element from a lamp held by one of said grippers,

5. Lamp-making machinery comprising two lamp-making machines, a circular turret disposed between the machines, lamp holders mounted on each machine, means on each machine for moving said holders in timed relationship through predetermined paths, lamp grippers mounted circumferentially on said turret, means for rotating said turret in timed relation to the movement of the holders on said machines to move said grippers through a path of which portions coincide with portions of the paths of the holders on each of said machines but tare vertically displaced therefrom, means associated with one of said machines for detaching a lamp element from a lamp held by one of said grippers while the gripper is indexed to a coincident position with the path of the machine, and means disposed upon -the other of said machines for assembling a lamp element upon a lamp held by said grippers while the gripper is indexed to ya coincident position with the path of said other machine.

6. A lamp-making system including first and second lamp-making machines adapted to perform sequential lamp-making operations, a circular turret disposed between said machines, lamp grippers mounted circumferentially on said turret, means for transferring a lamp from the first machine to one of said grippers, means for performing an operation on the lamp while the elements of the lamp are held simultaneously by the first machine and the gripper, means for transferring the lamp from the gripper to the second machine, and means for assembling a lamp element from the second machine upon the lamp while the lamp is held by said gripper and the element is held by the machine, prior to the transfer of the lamp from the gripper to the second machine.

7. In combination with two lamp-making machines each having a series of pairs of lamp holders and means for indexing the pairs of holders through predetermined paths; a transferring device comprising a circular turret, a s eries of pairs of lamp grippers mounted circumferentially on said turret, the distances between each holder of a pair on said machines being equal and equal to the chordal distance between each gripper of a pair on the turret, means for indexing said turret in timed relation to the indexing of the holders on said machines, said turret being disposed between said two machines with a portion of the path of the holders of each machine at cachindexed position of the machine and turret lying parallel to and vertically displaced from a chord formed by a pair of grippers on` the turret, whereby a pair oflarnps held by one machine may simultaneously be transferred to a pair of grippers on the turret, while another pair of lamps held by grippers on the turret may `simultaneously be transferred to a pair of holders on the other machine;

8. In combination with a lamp exhaust machine having means for holding the exhaust tube of a lamp and a tipping torch; a transfer turret, a lamp holder associated with said turret and movable vertically and horizontally therewith, means for first moving a lamp holder of the turret beneath a lamp held in the exhaust machine then upward into engagement with the lamp and then downward, means for moving said tipping torch first toward the exhaust tube of the lamp and then downward simultaneously with the downward movement of the turret and lamp holder, whereby the lamp is simultaneously tipped and transferred to the turret.

9. Lamp-making machinery comprising a circular turret, a plurality of pairs of lamp holders mounted in circumferential series on said turret, each pair of holders defining `a chord ofa circle concentric with said turret, means for -indexing Said turret to move said pairs of lamp holders through a predetermined path, means for raising and lowering said turret, a lamp exhaust machine, a plurality of pairs of lamp exhaust tube holders mounted on said exhaust machine, means for indexing said exhaust tube holders through a predetermined path intersecting the path of the lamp holders on the turret, the intersection of the paths o f the pairs of holders of the exhaust machine and the turret being effective to dispose a pair of holders on the exhaust machine in vertical coincidence with the chord formed by a corresponding pair of holders on the turret, a pair of tipping torches movably mounted on said exhaust machine adjacent the intersection of the paths, and means for first moving the torches toward a pair of exhaust tubes held in said exhaust -tube holders and then downwardly simultaneously with the lowering of the turret, whereby a pair of lamps held on the exhaust machine are simultaneously tipped and delivered to a pair of holders on the turret.

l0. Lamp-making machinery comprising a turret, a plurality of pairs of lamp holders mounted on said turret, means for indexing the turret to move `the pairs of lamp holders past a sequence of stations, means for raising and lowering the turret, means opposite one of said stations for bending upwardly the lead wires of pairs of lamps held in said holders, and means at a subsequent station for frictionally engaging said lead wires when the turret is elevated and releasing `the wires when the turret has dropped.

1l. Lamp-making machinery comprising a rotary turret, a plurality of pairs of lamp holders mounted in circumferential series on said turret, each pair of lamp holders defining a chord of a circle concentric with the turret, means for indexing the turret to move the pairs of lamp holders past a sequence of stations, at least one ofthe stations including a pair of identical operating mechanisms arranged on a line parallel to and vertically displaced from the chord formed by a corresponding pair of lamp holders on the turret, means for raising and lowering the turret, and means at one of said stations for frictionally engaging the lead wires of a pair of lamps when the turret is elevated and for releasing the Wires when the turret descends.

l2.. Lamp-making machinery comprising a turret, a plurality of lamp holders mounted on said turret, means for automatically rotating and raising and lowering the turret at timed intervals, a finishing machine disposed adjacent the turret, a plurality of grippers mounted on said finishing machine for holding lamp bases, wire guiding means mounted on said finishing machine, and means for operating said guide means as said turret raises to guide the lead wire of a lamp Aheld on said turret holders into and through a base held in one of said finishing machine grippers.

13. Lamp-making machinery comprising a turret, a plurality of lamp holders mounted on said turret, means for automatically rotating and raising and lowering the turret at timed intervals, a finishing machine disposed adjacent the turret, a plurality of grippers mounted on said finishing machine for holding lamp bases, Wire guiding means mounted on said finishing machine, means for operating said guide means as said turret rises to guide the lead Wire of a lamp held on said turret holders into and through a base held in one of said finishing machine grippers, and means on said finishing machine for automatically engaging and supporting lamps when said turret has risen to thread a lead wire into a lamp base.

14. Lamp-making machinery comprising a turret, a plurality of pairs of lamp engaging jaws disposed circumferentially on said turret, each jaw of each pair being pivotally mounted on the turret, gears secured to said jaws for rotating the jaws of each pair to open and closed positions, a cam engaging one jaw of each pair, means for operating said cam automatically to close two pairs of jaws at one sector of the turret and simultaneously open another pair of jaws at a different sector of the turret, and means for indexing the turret to move the jaws through a predetermined path.

15. In combination with first and second lamp-making machines adapted to perform different operations on a lamp and each having a series of pairs of lamp holders indexed in synchronism through predetermined paths, the distance between adjacent lamp holders being the same on both machines; a circular transfer turret, a series of pairs of lamp holders mounted circumferentially on said turret, the distance between adjacent lamp holders on the turret being the same as the distance between adjacent lamp holders on both lamp-making machines, and means for indexing the turret in synchronism with the indexing of the lamp-making machines, portions of the path of movement of the lamp holders on the turret over lapping the paths of the lamp holders on both said machines, whereby the chord defined by each pair of lamp holders on the turret is caused to lie parallel to and vertically displaced first from the line between two adjacent lamp holders on the first machine where the path of the lamp holders on the turret overlaps the path of the lamp holders on the first machine and subsequently is caused to lie parallel to and vertically displaced from the line between two adjacent lamp holders on the second machine where the path of the lamp holders on the turret overlaps the path of the lamp holders on the second machine, thereby rendering possible simultaneous discharge of one pair of lamps from the first machine to the turret and discharge of another pair of lamps from the turret to the second machine.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,708,756 Fagan et al. Apr. 9, 1929 1,736,766 Burrows Nov. 19, 1929 2,069,386 Palucki Feb. 2, 1937 2,120,877 Uber June 14, 1938 2,784,830 Thorson Mar. 12, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 695,101 Great Britain Aug. 5, 1953 

